Callejon: No Napoli regrets

Jose Callejon says he had ‘other offers’ last summer to leave Real Madrid, but has no regrets in opting for Napoli.

Jose Callejon says he had ‘other offers’ last summer to leave Real Madrid, but has no regrets in opting for Napoli.

The Spaniard has impressed in his debut season at the San Paolo, after electing to end his career at Madrid last summer, the club where he developed as a youth.

“I left Real Madrid in order to find greater consistency to my performance, in order to play more and to make a change in my career,” Callejon has told the Corriere dello Sport this week.

“It has not been easy, that is a club it is hard to leave, but at some point my love for football prevailed and I went to Napoli.

“Benitez described the project and spoke of this club. I had some offers, but I was convinced by everything. Now I can confirm that I was not wrong.

“In Madrid, football is important, you live with this enormous pressure. But here it has the same worth as religion.

“I chose to live in the centre to absorb this passion and I have no regrets. Among the public I am fine, I have no regrets. And I am also very at home, I do not go out much. I sit with family.

“The good relationship with the fans? Maybe the 17 goals has made that easier. Or maybe people have learned of my way of being. I do not chase personal glory, I am interested in doing well for Napoli.”

The Vesuviani look set to finish third this season and with five rounds to play they are already 20 points behind League leaders Juventus.

“We have lacked the concentration against those clubs seen as small. With the major challenges, with rare exceptions, we have not failed.

“The games that were apparently easier are the ones we have lost too many points in.”

Gonzalo Higuain also made the summer move from Madrid to Naples.

“We understand each other, with him everything is natural, spontaneous. The time at Real Madrid has favoured our understanding. And for me he is also the best and is also generous, he does everything for the team.

“My future? I feel good here and I feel the support of the people. I hope to go as far as possible with this Napoli.”